Are goods exported to Vietnam eligible for China's current export tax refund policies
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I am engaged in the export of hardware tools. Earlier this year, I received a $1.2 million order from an old Vietnamese client, with no prior experience in Vietnam-bound export business. Recently, I heard from peers that VAT refunds are available for exports to some countries, but I am not sure if Vietnam qualifies under relevant policies.
We have already obtained import and export operating rights. Our freight forwarder reminded me that there are many details to pay attention to in customs declaration, such as requirements for filling out the customs declaration form, whether commodity classification will affect tax refunds, and what conditions input invoices need to meet.
I am afraid of making mistakes, such as incomplete documents or incorrect classification leading to inability to obtain tax refunds and delaying capital recovery. Therefore, I want to specifically ask whether tax refunds are available for exports to Vietnam, what conditions and procedures are required, and especially whether there are any changes in the latest 2026 rules?
OliviaYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Customs AdvisorStart a Chat
The eligible entities for enjoying export tax refunds for goods exported to Vietnam are **VAT general taxpayers**，and they must meet the conditions that the goods have been declared for export and foreign exchange has been received (or meet the conditions deemed as foreign exchange received). Under the 2026 rules，it is necessary to confirm whether the HS code of the goods is included in the tax refund list. Most hardware tools are applicable to a 13% tax refund rate.
For pre-document review，note that the "export port" on the customs declaration form must meet customs networking requirements，the name and specifications of goods on the input VAT special invoice must be completely consistent with those of exported goods，foreign exchange receipt vouchers must be compliant settlement slips or other vouchers recognized by tax authorities，pre-declaration must be completed in the declaration system within 15 days after customs declaration.
For core node coordination，ensure formal declaration is submitted only after pre-declaration is approved，if there are exceptions，contact the freight forwarder for modification within 3 days，if the HS code is incorrectly classified，submit a classification explanation to the customs before declaration，if foreign exchange receipt is delayed，submit the deemed foreign exchange receipt certificate within the time limit.
After final compliance is achieved，the tax authorities will complete the tax refund within 1-2 months. All documents must be kept on record for more than 10 years to ensure no issues during subsequent inspections.
DavidYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Business Development AdvisorStart a Chat
Special attention should be paid to the HS code classification of goods exported to Vietnam in accordance with the updated customs rules of 2026. Most general machinery codes under Chapter 82 for hardware tools are within the scope of tax refunds. When declaring customs, the "domestic source of goods" must be accurately filled in as the location of the manufacturing enterprise to avoid rejection due to inconsistent source of goods. The "transaction term" on the customs declaration form must be FOB.
For CIF transactions, freight and insurance premiums must be deducted when calculating the tax refund base. The customs declaration data for exports to Vietnam in the integrated customs clearance system must be linked to the foreign exchange receipt data of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. Any data inconsistency must be corrected before declaration and cannot be delayed until the declaration stage.。
JohnYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Export Tax Rebate AdvisorStart a Chat
The logistics route for Vietnam-bound exports will affect tax refunds. For example, choosing a shipping company with direct flights to Vietnam can provide a free detention period of up to 21 days, allowing more time for customs declaration and tax refund application; if a transit route is selected, ensure that the customs transit procedures at the transit port are completed within 3 days to avoid port detention.
Detention fees will increase costs, so it is necessary to confirm the free container period with the shipping company in advance. Most goods exported to Vietnam are heavy cargo, so reasonable space arrangement is required to avoid overloading and container rejection, which will affect the customs declaration and departure time, and thus the tax refund application deadline.。
EmilyYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Client Success AdvisorStart a Chat
Tax refunds for Vietnam-bound exports fall under VAT exemption, credit and refund or exemption and refund. Under the 2026 rules, trading enterprises apply for exemption and refund, while manufacturing enterprises apply for exemption, credit and refund; the declaration method should be selected based on the enterprise type. If VAT deferral is adopted, capital occupation can be reduced.
The local VAT rate in Vietnam is 10%. It is necessary to ensure that there is no fraudulent issuance of input VAT invoices. The frequency of tax verification letters in 2026 is once every six months, so all documents must be prepared in advance to avoid delayed tax refunds due to unqualified verification letters.。
AlexanderYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Trade AdvisorStart a Chat
Foreign exchange collection and payment for Vietnam-bound exports must comply with the compliance requirements of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. The usage requirements of the CIPS system will be stricter in 2026. Foreign exchange collection for Vietnam-bound exports must be completed within 180 days after export.
If foreign exchange cannot be collected due to special reasons, an application for delayed foreign exchange collection must be submitted. Settlement through offshore accounts must comply with SWIFT message requirements; third-party accounts cannot be used for foreign exchange collection and payment to avoid being identified as abnormal foreign exchange transactions, which will affect the foreign exchange verification link for tax refunds.。
RobertYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Warehouse Management AdvisorStart a Chat
Tax refund declaration for Vietnam-bound exports must meet the "consistency of four flows", namely goods flow, capital flow, invoice flow, and customs declaration flow. Under the 2026 rules, pre-declaration must be completed within 30 days after customs declaration.
If there are doubts in pre-declaration, explanatory materials must be submitted within 15 days. Input invoice deduction must be completed within the declaration period; cross-month declaration will affect tax refund progress.
Document filing must include customs declaration forms, invoices, bills of lading, and contracts, with a retention period of 10 years. Complete materials must be provided during tax audits.。
SarahYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Foreign Exchange AdvisorStart a Chat
Tax refunds for Vietnam-bound exports should be combined with the overall supply chain layout. In 2026, the proportion of RMB cross-border settlement will increase, so RMB can be used for customs declaration to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations, and the tax refund arrival time can be shortened to 45 days.
The production cycle of hardware tools must match the export customs declaration time to avoid missing the application deadline due to production delays. An inventory linkage strategy can be adopted to stock goods in local warehouses in Vietnam in advance, accelerate goods departure, and ensure smooth tax refund declaration.。